Faculty and students engage in a variety of scholarly activities and research, individually and in collaboration. In the graduate year, Occupational Therapy students select either a thesis, or a group research option to complete their degrees. In addition, students may engage in individual projects or assist faculty in their research activities. Ithaca College is committed to providing our graduate students with the skills necessary to understand and assist in the generation of new knowledge about the nature of human occupation and the practice of occupational therapy. Several of these projects are have been submitted for publication or presentation and state and national conferences.

The Master's Thesis
This is an individual project developed and carried out by the student under the guidance of one or more faculty members. It is usually in an area of special interest to the student, but may also relate to specific faculty research interests. IC students have done a variety of different kinds of studies, including single-subject and group experiments, surveys and literature reviews. Results are interpreted and presented in the written thesis and at an oral thesis defense attended by students, faculty and family.

Megan Andrea, MS, OT, 2000
Intermanual Transfer of a Novel Writing Task in Young Adults without Disability: A Kinematic Perspective

Kimberly Arndt, MS, OT, 2000
Occupational Therapy and Children with Terminal Illness

Diane Ruth Barras, OT 2002
Flow Experiences of Participants in Adaptive Skiing Programs

Marissa D. Brown, OT 2002
A Study of Physical Environmental Features of Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Jillian Bergeron, MS, OT, 2002
Influences on School Readiness Skills: A Look at Play Activities

Simon Carson, MS, OT, 2002
Occupation Based Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy

Jill Dennis, MS, OT, 2004
Benefits of a Dance Program for Women Survivors of Breast Cancer

Megan Ann Deskin, MS, OT, 2000
Increasing Motivation in Older Adults

Alison Eisnor, MS, OT, 2000
Efficacy of an Aquatic Movement Program for Individuals with Arthritis

Andrea M. Fadel, MS, OT, 2000
Individuals with Mental Retardation and the Transition to Independent Living

Deborah Ann Ferris, OT, 2002
The Effect of Occupational Therapy Curriculum on Students’ Attitudes Toward Mental Illness

Karri Lee Fisher, MS, OT, 2001
Play and Social Interactions: A Time Use Study of Children with and without Disabilities

Sarah Gillis, MS, OT, 2000 (soft-bound copy 1/17/02)
In-Classroom versus Pull-Out Occupational Therapy Services: The Opinions of Children Within Three Public School Systems in Upstate New York

Tomasina Victoria Harper, MS, OT 2004
Pencil Grasp Comparisons Among Hispanic and Anglo-American Preschoolers, Ages Three to Five

Jennifer Iglthaler, MS, OT, 2003
Adolescents In Caregiving Homes

Corrine E. Iverson, MS, OT, 2000
Parental Locus of Control and Family-Centered Care

Jennifer M. Kinsley, MS, OT, 2001
A Comparison of the Social Interaction in Children with Developmental Disabilities and their Typically Developing Peers

Elizabeth A. Kreiling, MS, OT 2004
Perceptions About The Work Environment And Stress Levels For Occupational Therapy Professionals Working With Adult With Developmental Disabilities

Eliesha Marie Lovell, MS, OT, 2004
Psychological Well Being of Athletes with Acquired and Congenital Body Structure and/or Function Impairments

Kristine Ann Lowenwirth, MS, OT 2004
Sexual Dysfuntion Post Stroke

Amber Marie Matteson, MS OT 2004
Social Play in Early Childhood

Maureen A. McDaniel, MS, OT, 2000
Essential Characteristics of Preventive Educational Programs Targeting the Industrial and Service Worker Populations

Jane L. McGowan, MS, OT 2002
Assessment of Father’s Needs In Early Intervention Care

Scott McNeil, MS, OT, 2003
Who Wants To Be An Occupational Therapist?

Amy K. Robinson, MS, OT, 2001
Psychologists’ Perceptions of Occupational Therapy and the Treatment of Eating Disorders

Jessica Ellen Stearns, MS, OT, 2002
Understanding the Perceptions of Elderly Fallers in Order to Improve the Client Practitioner Relationship

Donald J. Shekailo, MS, OT, 2000
Locus of Control, Personal Causation, and Occupational Functioning with Implications for the Model of Occupation

Emily R. Wilson, MS, OT, 2000
The Role of Occupational Therapy in Welfare to Work

Rebecca Susanne Wurm, MS, OT 2004
Sprituality and Occupational Therapy

Jennifer Yeamans, MS, OT, 2000
Family-Centered Care in Early Intervention: Perceptions of Practice

Group Research Projects
Some students select the group research option. The group research project is developed and planned by a faculty member, and carried out by a group of students. Students do assigned background reading and engage in data collection and analysis collaboratively. Each student then prepares a short paper on part of the study, and the group works together to present their study on the graduate research day.

Group Research Projects:

Leisure in Adolescents With and Without Physical Disabilities: A Time Use Study. Dr. Carole Dennis and graduate students in the class of 2004.

Effectiveness of Using Self-Awareness Techniques With Selected Assessment Tools to Increase Credibility of Older Drivers’ Self-Report of Driving Ability. Professor Marilyn Kane and graduate students in the class of 2004.

The relationship of motor return and functional performance after stroke. Professor Sue Leicht and graduate class of 2002.

An investigation of motor efficiency in the elderly with and without synchronized vocalization. Dr. Kinsuk Maitra and graduate students in the class of 2001 with Dr. Kal Telage, (Ithaca College Department of Speech and Language Pathology and Audiology).

Occupations of adolescents with and without physical disabilities. Dr. Carole Dennis and graduate students from the class of 2001.

Hand function in school age children: Strength, dexterity and visual-motor integration. Professor Sue Leicht and graduate students of the class of 2001 with Dr. Francisco Valero-Ceuvas (Cornell University).

Cognitive complexity and clinical reasoning in occupational therapy students. Dr. Carole Dennis with Dr. Catherine Gordon and graduate students in the class of 2000.